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Thursday, March 16, 2017

3 charged over capsized catamaran incident in Sabah

The boat owner and skipper face charges of causing the death of Chinese tourists.

KOTA KINABALU: Three individuals were charged at the Sessions Court here yesterday over the capsized catamaran incident in the waters off Pulau Mengalum last January, which claimed the lives of four Chinese tourists.

Sharezza Salian, 26, who is the skipper of the boat, was charged with negligence in handling the boat while having 28 passengers and crew members onboard, hence causing injuries to the passengers, at between 10 am and 11 am on Jan 28.

Sharezza from Pulau Gaya was also charged with causing the death of Chinese tourists He Runyuan, 46; Wang Jianyi, 38; Xie Luo, 49; and Zhang Xiau Kun, 27; on the same day and at the same time and place.

The operation manager of Golden Sailing Travel and Tour Sdn Bhd who owned the boat, Leong Vin Jee, 45, was also charged with negligence in allowing Sharezza to set sail from Kampung Tanjung Aru jetty at 9.15am on the same day.

Leong was also charged with causing the death of the four Chinese tourists.

Also charged was the director of Golden Sailing and Travel and Car Rental Sdn Bhd, Chung Ket Siew, 64.

She was alleged to have negligently allowed the use the boat, hence causing the death of the four Chinese tourists on the same day and at the same time and place.